Sliding hopper closure operating and supporting mechanism



G'. B. DOREY I Feb. 23, 1965 SLIDING HOPPER CLOSURE OPERATING ANDSUPPORTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 16, 196 0 Q MEmm. NM 1 Na/3% Q m N. R? Q J v w w .Yww m r QQ I, Q bk, A 1| 11 9 m Q Wi.8 km w [H g k \v\ W 6 Q w l v 4 Q Q .3 mt Q w Q M II .g a Q/ \WW 3 w nmm.

Feb. 23, 1965 G. B. DOREY 3,170,609

SLIDING HOPPER CLOSURE OPERATING AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM Original FiledJune 16, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

680C965. D0f@, I BY G. B. DOREY SLIEDINGI HOPPER CLOSURE OPERATING ANDSUPPORTING MEICHANISM Original Fil-ed June 16, 1960 m w w 0 G. BJDOREY'3,E70,609'

SLIDING HOPPER CLOSURE OPERATING AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM Feb. 23, 19654 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 16, 1960 3% Q Q Q w A w 1m \pn & mmQ a QM k m Nh Q Q HHHHHHHI HI I IHHHHHINHH IHHH HhI HL -H HHHHI PHH l lln hul nl l ll k N? United States Patent 3,170,609 SLIDING HOPPERCLOSURE GPERATING AND SUPPORTING MECESM George B. Dorey, Westmount,Quebec, Canada, assiguor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Continuation of applicationSer. No. 36,592, .lune 16, 1960. This application Feb. 20, 1964, Ser.No. 346,187 11 Claims. (Cl; 222-505) This invention'relates to animproved hopper outlet assembly such as employed for controlling thedischarge of lading from load containing hoppers utilized for handlingfinely comminuted lading, and is a continuation of application SerialNo.-36,502, filed lune 16, 1 960.

The objects of the invention, among others, are: to provide an assemblyhaving a sliding gate employing retractable rails for supporting thegate in opened position; to provide retractable rail members performingthe dual function of moving a sliding gate and Supporting theoverhanging end of the gate when in closed positiom-to provide anoperating shaft having seats associated therewith on which a slidinggate rests throughout a substantial range of its sliding movement; toprovide guiding and supporting means for retractable supporting railmembers for a sliding gate; to provide an improved arrangement ofgearedpinions and associated rack members for moving a sliding gate; toprovide an improved frame structure for receiving a sliding gate andassociated operating means therefor; to provide an upwardly flangedbeading along the leading marginal edge of a sliding gate to coactwith-an overlying wall for restricting outward flow of line lading andthereby provide sealing security; and to provide for cooperatingengagement between the lower margirral edge of an overlying Wall and anupwardly flanged heading of a gate for positively insuring downwarddisplacement of the gate.

The invention further resides in the combination of parts and details ofconstruction whereby the desired results are obtained as Will be evidentfrom the specification and drawings.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elcvational view of the lower portion of a loadcontaining structure incorporating the improved outlet assembly.

FIG. 2 is a vertical elevational end view of the structure shown in FIG.1 as viewed from right to left, the operating shaft-andrack supportbrackets being omitted. FIG. 3 is a pian view of the structure shown inFIG. 1 with the hopper floor sheets eliminated and certain parts brokenaway to better illustrate the details of construction. 1

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 except that the sliding gate is shownin opened position with the overhanging portion of the gate supported bythe retractable members.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical elevational view taken through theassembly on a line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and showing the sliding gate inpartially opened position.

- FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on a line 6-6 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on a line 77 ofFIG. '1.

FIG. 8 is a fractional vertical sectional view taken 0 a line 8-8 ofFIG..1.

FIG. 9 is a fractional vertical sectional view taken on a line 9-9 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one of the side wall sub-assemblies ofthe frame.

In said drawings the improved outlet assembly is shown as applied to afour sided hopper 10 formed, in

part, by oppositely sloping longitudinally extending outer "ice andinner walls 11 and 12 which meet with transversely extending walls 13and 14. Surrounding the lower portion of the hopper 111 is a frameassembly 15 which includes an upper section 16 and a lower section 17.The upper section 16 is generally of inverted truncated shape withlongitudinally extending side walls 18 and 19 which meet withtransversely extending walls 211 and 21. The side Walls 18, 19, 21) and21, respectively, overlie the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14.

The lower section 17 is formed of side wall members 22 and 23 andtransversely extending wall members 24 and 25. The said wall members 22,23 and 24 form a three sided enclosure within which the truncated upperportion 16 nests and the other wall member 25, which extendstransversely beneath a sliding gate 26, includes a sloping wall section27 and an upper flange 28. The said upper flange 28 is spaced from thelower marginal edge 29 of the transversely extending overlying wall 21to form a slotted opening 311 through which the sliding gate 26 extends.The lower marginal edges of the truncated upper section 16, as formed bythe lower edges of the Walls 18, 19, 2t? and 21, thus form theboundaries of a discharge area 31 which is closed by the sliding gate26.

The wall members 22, 23 and 24 of the lower frame section 17 arepreferably formed of upper verticall extending wall sections 32, 33 and34 which lead to downwardly and inwardly sloping Wall sections, asindicated at 55, 36 and 37 respectively. The sloping walls 35, 36 and 37in combination with the sloping wall 27 of Wall member 25 form a foursided chute-like hopper lying below the gate 2-6 for receiving ladingflowing from the discharge area 31.

The side wall members 22 and 23, at the end of the frame adjacent thetrailing end 26 of the gate 26, in clude vertically extending portions33 and 39, respectively, forming continuations of the verticallyextending wall sections 22 and 23. The sloping wall sections 35 and 36in actuality are formed by separating a portion of tne plates as at 41),FIG. 10, from the vertically extending wall portions of the side wallmembers 22 and 23 and bending the same inwardly. The separated por tionsare then united by transversely extending gusset plates 41 which areunited by welding as indicated at 42 and 43. 1 a

The sliding gate 26 includes a flat body section 48 with verticallydisposed longitudinally extending side flanges 49 and 5t) and an endflange 51. The upper margins of the side flanges 49 and 511 arepreferably of arouate shape as indicated at 52, FIG. 6, and the leadingend 26" of the gate 26 is beveled upwardly as at 53 to form a bead ingalong this edge to restrict flow of lading beyond the lower marginaledge of the sloping wall 20 when the gate 26 is in closed position asseen in FIG. 1. The gate 26 is guided in its longtiudinal movement bysliding between the vertically disposed side wall sections 32 and 33.Adjacent the trailing end 26 the gate 26 is provided with bearings 54arid 55 through which a shaft 56 extends to project beyond said bearingsand provide trun mon portions 57-57 at the respective sides of the gate26.

Pivotally connected with the shaft 56 are toothed rack elements 53-58which slide between upper and lower brackets 59 and 611 on the sides ofthe frame 15. The rack elements 53 are preferably each formed of a pairof bars 61-61 spaced apart laterally to admit a series of cogs 62therebetween which are held in place by'rivets to support'the bars d1rack bars 61' slide.

of the tooth portions es. Said hubs 67-and ss form rests tion of each.bearing 65 is notched at 69 to receive the inner bar 61 of theassociated rack 5%.

The pinions .64 are apertured to receive an operating shaft it? ofsquare cross section therethrough to effect rotation thereof in'unison.The pinion 64 on the right end of the shaft 7th is maintained in axialrelation thereon by a pin 71. At the opposite end of the shaft 7t? anoperating head 72 is provided. Preferably it is welded to the adjacentpinion as indicated at 73. The operating head 72 and its Welded pinion64- are then retained in position on the shaft 76 by a rivet 74L 7 Thegate 26 in its closed position is thussupported at its trailing end 26'by the'hubs 68-68 and at its opposite or leading end 26" by a ledge 75,FIG. 5. Plates 75 extending fromand welded to the wall sections 35 and3,6 are inclined upwardly to cooperate With'the under side of theleading end 26 of the. gate 26 to direct itonto the ledge '75.Intermediate these end supports there-are pro vided ledges 76 which arespaced slightly from the under side of the gate '26 to the extent shownat Wand 73, FIG. 1, when the gate 26 is in closed position;

Upon initial opening movement of the gate 26 there is a slight drop inthe leading end 26' thereof tothe extent permitted by the spaces 77 and78. This slight downward displacement of the leading end 26 of the gate26 results in relieving the pressure of the lading and is conducive toease of 61' and to this end the upper poroperation by facilitating thebreakaway movement of [the gate 26. The slight positive downwarddisplacement of the gate 26 is assured by reason of contacts between thebeveled portion-53' at the lading end 26 of the gate 26 and the lowermarginal edge '79 of the end wall The downward movement of the leadingend 26" of the gate 26 is accompanied by a corresponding drop oftherounded upper margins 52 of the side fianges' tll and 5h away fromthe undersurfaces 8th of the sloping side walls 18 and 19 and theopening movement of the gate '25 is thereby further facilitated.

The trailing end 26" of the gate 26, when the latter is opened, issupported by the rack elements 58 which then 7 operate as retractablesupporting rails as seen in FIG. 4.

The supporting brackets 59 and 6% are preferably disthe undersides ofthe flanges 1% and'lfi V lit? and ill. are completed by spacers 112 andi113 and a pair of angle shaped members each h'avingone flange 97resting on the flange92. of themembere and Welded thereto and havingtheadjacent flange 9% extending upwardly toreceive the pivot "94. Thelocking dog 93 is provided with a key shaped opening ltltl for receivinga key shaped sealing pin till therethrough. Stops 1M and ltliicooperatewith a handle tea on the sealing pin 191 to limit its movement. Asealing ribbon 135, FIG. 1, cooperates with the sealing pin ltllin aconventional manner; i

Along the lower margins of and on the outer downwardly facing sides ofthe upwardly'sloping wall sections 35, 36, 3'7 and2Toutstandinghorizontalflanges Hi5, the, MP7 and 1%, respectively, aresecured bywelding These flanges provide a generally rectangular framearound the lower frame section 17 andserve to rigidity it. Twoadjacentifianges of a disch'arge chute (not shown) i can beclamped tothe undersides'of the flanges- 1% and 1637 while grooves ill? and illare'prov-ided in' wh'ich two a other adjacent flanges of the dischargechute can be inserted. The grooves lit and 111 are formed, in part, byThe grooves lower-flanges 114; and i115 suitablysecured to the flanges1% and 16925. A vertical 116 forming-a part of the lower bracket eeextcndsbetween the shelf FIG; 8,

and the upper side of the flange'ltld and is welded in a place; In asimilar manner a web l7, 5, extends between the underside of the wallsection 37 and'the upper side of the flange lbTand is. welded thereto. a

What is claimed as new is: v V

1. in combination, a hopper having a' discharge opening and 'a slidinggate for theopening, a frame supported by and-surrounding the lowerportion of the hopper and supporting said gate, means for moving saidgate including a rotatable shaft journaled in the frame andinterengaging pinions and rack means on the shaft and gate Irespectively, said pinions having laterally extending hubs and said rackmeans being formed of spaced bars pivoted at one end to the gate'anddisposed to straddle the pinions. 1 and reston the hubs thereof,said'rack means beingslidingly supported by the frame and coextensivewith said gate and extending beyond the other end of said gate.

2. In combination, a hopper having a'discharge opening and a slidinggate for the opening, aframe supported posed substantially midway of theframe 15 and form 7 guides between'which the rack bars 6l-61 aresupported and guided. An additional bracket til is located adjacent theshaft 7% to restrain the rack bars oil-61 against upward movement. Eachbracket fill includesa laterally extending Wall. 32 above the bars 61and braced to the frame by a web 553.

In like manner the bracket 59, FIG. 1, includes a laterally extendingshelf 8-4 overlying the bars 61 and a bracing'wall to the frameindicatedat85. Each bracket es is preferably spaced lengthwise a limited distancefrom the respective upper bracket 59 and includes a laterally extendingshelf 86 on which the mounted, on the underside of the shelf 84.

The shelf 86 carries a pad 87, FIG.

An abutment 88 is carried by each rack element 58 to i i engage with theupper bracket 5@ and thereby limit opening movement of the gate 26.

An angle shaped reinforcing member 89, FIGS, which extends transverselyof the frame 15 beneath the sloping Wall 21, is disposed with one flange9% welded to the said wall 2t! at 91; It has another flange 92 whichextends to lie above the. gate 26 andparallel thereto.

The gate 26is retained in closed position by a locking by and.surrounding the lower portion of the hopperand supporting said gate,means for moving said gate includa' rotatable shaft and interengagingpinions and rack means carried by the shaft and connected to one end ofthe gate respectively, the shaft being. iournaled in bearings on theframe disposed outwardly thereof; said pinions lyingadjacent thebearingsand having hubs on each side thereof with one of said hubs extendinwithin a bearing with the pinion adiacent thereto to limit inward axialmovement of the shaft, said rack means including spaced walls straddlingthe pinions and resting on the hubs thereof. and coextensive, with andextendingbeyond the other end of said gate, said bearingsreceiving thepinio'ns being cut away at the upper side thereof to accommodate a rackwall in resting position on the hub.

3. In combination, a hopper having a discharge opening and a slidinggate for the opening a frame sup orted a V l by andsurrounding the lowerportion of thehop'per and uppor -ting said gate, means for moving said.gate includ ing a shaft journaled in theframe: and inte-rengaging pinionand rack means on the shaft and connected to one end of saidgaterespectively, said rack means including laterally spaced walls adaptedto straddle the pinions and'coextensive with and extending beyond theother end of said gate, guiding means for the rack'means including wallsextending laterally from'the frame across theplane of the rack means,and'pads'onthe-s'aid walls lying between the spaced walls of therackmeans'. r

4. The invention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein later respectively,said frame including a pair of side wall members having vertical wallsections, and a pair of vertical end portions, said vertical wallsections being integral .with said vertical end portions and slopingwall sections integral with said vertical wall sections and angularlyextending from. said vertical end portions, and gusset platesinterconnecting juxtaposed edge portions of said sloping wall sectionsand said vertical end portions.

6. The invention, as set forth in claim 5, wherein hearing meanssupported by the vertical end portions of the side wall members providethe rotatable mounting for the shaft on the frame.-

7. The invention, as set forth in claim 5, wherein ledges are supportedon the inner and upwardly facing sides of the sloping wall sections forengaging. the underside of the gate to support it in sliding movement onthe frame.

8. The invention, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the lower margins ofthe sloping wall sections are reinforced by outwardly extendinghorizontal flanges secured thereto.

9. In a hopper having an opening for the discharge of lading and anoutlet assembly for controlling discharge of lading the improvementcomprising:

(a) a sliding gate for the opening, 7

(b) a frame bordering the opening forming a support for the gate,

(c) said frame having longitudinally extending side wall components and(d) transversely extending wall components forming with said side wallcomponents,

(e) a foursided chute-like enclosure including inwardly converging wallmeans lying below the gate,

(j) said side wall'components forming guiding means at the sides of thegate and I (g) having. longitudinal extensions projecting beyond thechute-like enclosure; j (11) means for moving the gate including: (i) anoperating shaft journaled in the extension (j) interengaging rack andpinion means associated with the gate and shaft respectively for movingthe gate by rotation of the shaft;

each said side wall component including an uprightside wall plateportion forming (1) the side wall guides for the gate. (2) theextensionbeyond the chute constituting a support for the shaft,

(3) an inwardly directed portion forming the converging wall means forthe chute-like enclosure,

(4) said inwardly directed portion being formed by imparting a cut inthe upright plate extending upwardly from its lower margin to the lineof convergence to provide (5) a length of plate juxtaposed to the chuteand (6) bending said juxtaposed parted length of plate inwardly,

10. The invention, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inwardlyconverging portion of the plate is united with the upright extension bya transversely extending gusset.

11. The invention, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the inwardlyconverging wall is reinforced at its lower margin by a horizontal flangesecured thereto and to the unitin gusset. I

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,989,931 6/61Joy 305 X 3,022,921 2/62 Davenport 222505 X 3,085,517 4/63 Smith 105-305X 3,130,687 4/64 Smith 105-305 X FOREIGN PATENTS 583,063 9/59 Canada.

EVERETT w. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

3. IN COMBINATION, A HOPPER HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AND A SLIDINGGATE FOR THE OPENING, A FRAME SUPPORTED BY AND SUPPORTING THE LOWERPORTION OF THE HOPPER AND SUPPORTING SAID GATE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAIDGATE INCLUDING A SHAFT JOURNALED IN THE FRAME AND INTERENGAGING PINIONAND RACK MEANS ON THE SHAFT AND CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID GATERESPECTIVELY, SAID RACK MEANS INCLUDING LATERALLY SPACED WALLS ADAPTEDTO STRADDLE THE PINIONS AND COEXTENSIVE WITH AND EXTENDING BEYOND THEOTHER END OF SAID GATE, GUIDING MEANS FOR THE RACK MEANS INLUDING WALLEXTENDING LATERALLY FROM THE FRAME ACROSS THE PLANE OF THE RACK MEANS,AND PADS ON THE SAID WALLS LYING BETWEEN THE SPACED WALLS OF THE RACKMEANS.